The OFW Journalism Consortium is an organization of media practitioners and OFW (overseas Filipino workers) advocates. We publish stories and send to recipients almost every month.

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Monday, February 12, 2007

Firms tap signing-frenzy OFWs for biz expansion

BY WILLIAM ALZONA & ISAGANI DE LA PAZ

MANILA—BOXER Manny Pacquiao’s endorsement of a portable music-video microphone proves the Filipinos’ penchant for singing and reflects the market is deep and wide.But Butch Albarracin remains unimpressed. He said revenues from the domestic market is proving to be unreliable for his entertainment-focused business.Albarracin, founder of the Center for Pop Music Philippines Inc., is setting his sights on 8 million overseas Filipino workers who, despite temporarily or permanently living or working abroad, shares one dream: becoming the next big pop superstar.Began in 1984, Center for Pop emerged as the country’s top music training school, aiming to develop a curriculum to incubate the next superstars in the entertainment industry.It has outlived other music training schools set up by other top musicians and composers in the country, after the Center, Alabarracin said, took the marketing part of the business seriously.We balanced our focus on the music and selling the Center’s services, he added.That strategy paid well for Albarracin, who was recognized last month by a local marketing group for his success in medium-scale entrepreneurship.Today, the music school has 21 branches and extension classes in about 20 schools in Metro Manila.But instead of moving towards the provinces, Albarracin said he’s more inclined to expand outside the country. He said he has received an offer from an investor in Daly City, California, but Albarracin said he’s setting the stage for entry in Hong Kong.”If we can go there and teach them how to sing, they can contribute to the growth of the [Filipino] community [there]. They can have a skill, and they won’t be shameful [of their jobs],” he added.To read full story, click here